Raising the roof at Ineos Grangemouth

Jill Buchanan

The roof was put in place on Europe’s biggest ethane storage tank today.

In a remarkable feat of engineering and following six months of building work at Ineos Grangemouth, the massive top was put in place using just four low pressure fans.

The huge tank is 56 metres in diameter and 44 metres high – and could fit 560 double decker buses inside.

Investing in the Grangemouth tank and infrastructure is part of the £450 million rescue package for the site, allowing it to import ethane gas from the US, according to the company.

John McNally, CEO of Ineos O&P UK, said: “This is a landmark day for Grangemouth. We know that US ethane has transformed US manufacturing and now Scottish industry will benefit as well. This will secure a cost-effective supply of ethane for the next 15 years, and give a sustainable base for Grangemouth for that time.”

The building of Europe’s largest ethane storage tank is part of Ineos’ $1 billon global project to get US shale gas to the continent.